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October 8, 2015

Dialysis Didn’t Fit Career Plan

By uclahealth

“There was a time where I didn’t do dialysis for a month, and I refused hemodialysis,” says Michelle Obespo-­‐Theus, whose high blood pressure led to kidney failure. She notes her biggest battle with kidney failure was ensuring that dialysis didn’t ruin her high-­profile career as a consultant for major athletes. "Another hospital said, ‘You have to do ‘hemo,’ and they were trying to put this thing in my arm. I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ I need to wear dresses and do all these things, and this will not be the end of my life. "

"At UCLA, nephrologist Dr. Anjay Rastogi and Joe Ephantus, the head nurse, gave me all the options and told me about peritoneal dialysis [where you can give yourself treatments at home, at work or while traveling] It wasn’t the easiest process, and I definitely had complications, but it was a better fit for my lifestyle. I’m 100 percent better now that I have a kidney, thanks to an altruistic donor. My personal experience with UCLA is that I couldn’t ask for anything better, especially in such a traumatic time.”